Apparatus for deriving oil and quicklime from bituminous lime stone



I May 9, 1933.

APPARATUS FOR DERIVING B. KAZMANN OIL AND QUICKLIME FROM BITUMINOUS LIME STONE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES BORIS KAZMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR DERIVING OIL AND QUICKLIME FROM BITUMINOUS LIME STONE Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 405,918.

My present invention relates to apparatus for treating bituminouslimestones or limestone shales, especially for converting the same into oil or one or more fractions of fuel 1;; oils and aims to devise apparatus of the gen eral character specified which is simple in construction, which may be easily and conveniently fabricated and assembled, which is convenient and economical in operation, and

"Io by means of which the desired treatment may 2'0 structive distillation process carried out in the apparatus being utilizable for various purposes, for example, for supplying a part at least of the fuel required for providing the heat for the dry or destructive distilla- '25 tion process. Other objects of the present invention, particularly as exemplified in the following illustrative embodiment of the same, will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

In the accompanying specification I shall describe, and in the annexed drawing show an illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. It is, however, to

be clearly understood, that my invention not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown and described for purposes of illustration only. In the accompanying specification I shall also describe and in the annexed drawing more or less diagrammatically exemplify one form of process which may be conveniently and successfully practised in the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention,

such form of process embodying the mechanical principles of the process described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 359,990, filed May 2, 1929, entitled Process for deriving'oil andquicklime from bituminous limestone. It is further to be a clearly understood that the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is not necessarily restricted in its use to the practice of the aforesaid form of process, nor is the aforesaid form of process necessarily restricted to its practice by means of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. v

Befored-escribing the aforesaid illustra-' tive embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, itmay be desirable briefly to describe the classes of materials which may most successfully be treated in such apparatus and one form of-process which may be eficiently carried out in such apparatus.- The apparatus of the present invention has been particularly design-ed and is especially intended for the dry or destructive distillation of bituminous limestone or limestone shales, particularly but not exclusively such grades of bituminous limestones or limestone shales as are found in relativeabundance in Palestine. These materials consist in the main of calcium carbonate or limestone and bitumens of a rather complex sort.

These bitumens, which are a mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbonaceous sub-: stances, hereinafter referred to generally as hydrocarbons, are made up of solids, which may be destructively distilled, soas to yield by meansof the apparatus of the present invention, products, some of which are liquid and some of which are gaseous at normal temperatures. Such bituminous limestones generally contain from about eighteen (18) to about twenty-two (22) per cent oftheir weight of organic matter of which about fifty per cent is converted into liquid and gaseous fuel, in accordance with vthe principles of the methods of the present invention, in the proportions of about threequarters by weight into liquid fuel and about one-quarter by weight into gaseous fuel. The remainder of such organic material constitutes the carbonaceous residue which is left in the limestone for subsequent use in the conversion of the same into quicklime, in accord ance with the principles of the apparatus of the present invention as will now be described in considerable detail.

Assuming a raw material of the type just described, the process for treating the same in accordance with the principles of the methods described and claimed in my copending application identified above, may be briefly set forth as follows:

Such bituminous limestone or limestone shales are now heated in a suitable appara tus, preferably in the substantially complete exclusion of air, to a temperature of at least four hundred and ten (410) degrees C., more 'or less.

As already stated, I prefer that the treatment, at least the first stage of the same,

shall be conducted preferably in the substantial exclusion of air. I-may facilitate this desired result by conducting the first stage of the process in the absence of air or in an inert atmosphere, such as an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, which latter gas may be ob tained as a by-product of the limestone burning process later described as constituting the step for converting the limestone and admixed carbonized bitumen into quicklime. The purpose of the inert atmosphere or of the exclusion of air, or both, is to prevent wasteful combustion of the bitumens and also to suitably limit the cracking on conversation of the same'into constituents which will be liquid and gaseous at normal temperatures. I prefer also that the heating in the retort or other suitable apparatus in which the cracking of the bitumens occurs shall be so conducted that the cracking will take place under relatively little or no pressure that is, that there will be a free discharge of the volatilized constituents of the cracking process into the condensing appara tus subsequently referred to.

The heating continues until the vapors and gases resulting from the cracking of the organic constituents of the limestone shale or bituminous limestone being treated have been volatilized or eliminated. This may be readily determined in the usual way, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention related. The residue of the bitumens will be a carbonaceous residue having the uses and functions subsequently set forth in considerable detail. The hydrocarbons or hydrocarbonaceous vapors driven oil may be condensed in any suitable apparatus either as a single composite fluid or as a series of fractions of such fluid. In any event, the composite fluid or fractions of fluid Will comprise a fuel oil or fuel oil fractions having high calorific value. There will also be discharged a combustible or fuel gas which may be suitably collected in a gas receiver for subsequent combustion either in the burning of the limestone to quicklime in the subsequent stage of the process or for any other desired purpose. There remains in the retort a cal? careous carbon-containing residue made up of limestone and a carbonized bituminous residue, together with such mineral and other impurities as may have been present in the original charge of raw material.

The limestone, carrying with it a charge of arbonizcd bitumen, is now burned, under oxidizing conditions, as by the admission of air under regulated or controlled conditions. The purpose of this is to utilize the calorific values of tl e'carbonized bitumen to assist in the burning'of the limestone into quicklime. The burning may take place in a suitable kiln and the material is preferably charged into the kiln in as hot a condition as possible from the retort in which the cracking took place. Or, if desired, the two operations may be con ducted successively in the same retort or other suitable apparatus. Furthermore, some at least of the heat for the conversion of the limestone into quicklime may be-supplied by using the fuel gases obtained during the cracking process as described above.

The burning of the limestone continues until the carbonized bituminous constituents have been burneo away to supply the necessary heat and the limestone converted into a high. grade quicklime which is highly suitable for buildingor other purposes. This result is rendered possible by the admixed carbonized bitumens which have been burned away during the limestone-burning process and by the residual uncondensed fuel gases obtained as a by-product of the cracking process.

It will thus be seen that in addition to a high grade fuel oil or fuel oil fraction and an uncondensed gas, there is obtained a high grade quicklime, all of these products being obtained in an economical and successful manner from a single type or character of raw material. 7 This completes the description of the form of the method described and claimed in my copending application above identified, andv the classes of raw materials which may be successfully treated by such method in the apparatus of the present invention which will now be described in detail.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and with particular reference to the diagrammatical drawing illustrating the same, which is a view in elevation with parts in section; 10 indicates a source of supply of the general character specified above.

bituminous limestones or limestone shales of source of supply 10 may comprise a hopper of general conical form, having the inlet at' vancing the material into the dry distillation apparatus subsequently described. The feeding means 14 may comprise a shaft 15 carrying the pulley 16 at its outer end for operation by a belt or other means from any suitable source of power not here deemed necessary to be shown. On that portion of the shaft 14, which is within the casing of the conveyer 13 is a screw conveyer element or a series of blades generally designated by ref erence character 17 and so arranged and constructed that upon the operation of the conveyor 14 the screw element or blades 17 which may be in the form of sections of portions of a screw element, will serve to advance the material coming from the hopper 10 into the conveyor 13 towards the discharge end 18 of the conveyor.

Communicating with the lower end of the conveyor by means of the discharge outlet 18 is the dry distillation apparatus generally designated by reference character 20 and comprising as one of its essential portions the dry distillation chamber 21. The latter may have different forms but is preferably in the form of a cylindrical body having the ends 22 and 23 in which are mounted the ends of a rotatable shaft 24, which at its outer end carries a pulley 25 so that the shaft and the portions carried by the same may be su'tably operated by means of a belt or other means from any suitable source of power not here deemed necessary to be shown. That portion of the shaft 24 which is within the dry distillation chamber 21 between the ends 23 and 24, is preferably provided with means such as a screw element or a series of blades preferably comprising sections of a screw element designated by reference character 26, for advancing the material being treated from the point of its entrance 18 into the dry distillation apparatus 20 to the point of its discharge 27 from such dry distillation apparatus.

While various means may be provided for suitably heating the dry distillation chamber 21, I prefer to provide the means illustrated in the drawing and comprising aheating space 30 defined between the outer wall of the dry distillation chamber 21' and the surrounding wall 31 comprising the outer wall of the dry distillation apparatus generally designated by reference character 20. The heating space 30 will therefore be seen to be substantially annular-cylindrical in The form. In order to provide the heating space with the calorific values required for the heating operation,'I may provide any suitablemeans as a .fuel pipe 32 which may be provided with gaseous or liquid fuel, forexample, the gaseous or liquid fuel in part at least resulting from the dry distillation operation carried out in the apparatus itself. The fuel pipe 32 may comprise a plurality of burners 33, 34 and 35, the products of com bustion'for which enter directly into the heat space 33, 34 and 35 respectively. 36 designates a stack through which the spent products of combustion, after they have carried out the desired heating operation, -may be discharged into the atmosphere. It may here be stated that the temperature to which the interior of the dry distillation chamber 21 and the material contained therein should be heated, should be at least 410 C. more or less, and may rise'much higher, asto about 600 C.

During the course of the treatment of the bituminous limestones or limestone shales in the dry distillation apparatus 20, volatile hydrocarbon vapors, some of which are condensable at ordinary temperatures into one or more fractions of'hydrocarbon oils and some of which are still gaseous at normal temperatures and pressures are given off. I provide means for suitably collecting and fractionating such hydrocarbon oil vapors. While various arrangements may be successfully used for this method, I prefer to use the means illustrated in the drawing and there generally designated by reference character 40. Said means preferably comprise a plurality of spaced. oil-vapor take-off pipes 41,

42, 43 and 44, the same preferablyhaving the 7 form generally designated in the drawing and communicating at one end with the interior of the dry distillation chamber 21 and at their other ends with the collecting pipe 45, which in turn communicates with the collecting tank 46. Assuming that the collecting tank 46 is exposed to the cooling action of g the air, a fraction of heavier oils of relatively high boiling points will readily condense in the tank 46. The uncondensed hydrocarbon oil vapors will leave the tank 46 by way of the discharge pipe 47 being led by means of such discharge pipe 47 to a surface or other condenser generally designated by reference character 48 and which'will serve, by the cooling action of water or other suitable fluid entering by the inlet pipe 49 and leaving by the discharge pipe 50 to condense those portions of the hydrocarbon oil vapors entering the condensers 48 by way of the pipe 47 which are liquid at normal temperatures and pressures. The condensed hydrocarbon oil fraction thus obtained will be received through the pipe 51 in the tank 52. 53 indicates a pipe communicating with the interior of the tank 52 by means of which unj condensed hydrocarbon gases may be drawn off to be sent to the gas tank or directly to the fuel pipe 52, as desired. It may here be stated that 54 designates'a connection controlled by a valve 55 communicating with the tank 46 and at its other end with a pump which serves to pump the heavy oil from the tank 46 to any desired place where it may be stored or used. Similarly, 56 indicates a pipe communicating with the tank 52 and controlled by a valve 57 by means of which the lighter oil in the tank 52 may be sent by a pump or other suitable device to a tank for storage or for use. The limits of the boiling points of the fractions condensed in the re-' spective tanks 46 and 52, will, of course, depend upon the composition of the bituminous limestones or limestone shales treated in the apparatus, the time, temperature and mass factors of the treatment and the temperatures to whichthe resulting hydrocarbon vapors are respectively cooled in the tank Y46 and in the condenser 48. It is merely necessary to state in the present connection that the tank 46 will be found to contain a heavy oil fraction, the limits of the boiling points of the components of which are relatively high, While the tank 52 will be found to contain a light oil fraction, the limits of the boiling points of the components of which are relatively low.

It is to be understood that all of the foregoing constitutes conventional apparatus'to which I make no claim, my invention consisting of the combination of the dry distillation apparatus alone described with a lime kiln as hereinafter set forth.

The'solid residues of the reactions in the dry distillation chamber 21, comprising limestones and admixed carbonized bitumen or the like, which latter ingredient of the mixture serves to supply a part at least of the fuel. needed for the limestone to burn, now leaves the dry distillation chamber 21 under the impulse of the conveyor element or apparatus 20 is burned to a high grade lime,

the carbonized bitumen forming a part of the mixture as already stated, being consumed in the process and providing a part at least of the fuel values needed for the burning of the lime.

It will thus be seen that by means of the present invention the residues resulting from' clear from the foregoing description, but

may be briefly summarized as follows:

Bituminous limestones or limestone shales of the general properties and compositions described above, will enter the apparatus by way of the hopper and be conveyed by means of the conveyor 14 into the interior of the dry-distillation chamber 21. In such chamber, the material will be acted upon-by the heat provided by the fuel pipe 32 and the burners 33, 34 and 35, the products of combustion entering by way of the burners 3.3, 34 and 35, respectively, into the heating space from which they are vented after the heating operation is completed by Way of the stack 36. The material in the chamber 21 should be heated to a temperature of at least 410 C. but may be heated as much higher as desired, as to a temperature of 600 C. The oil vapors are thrown off by the pipes 41, 42, 43, and 44 into the collecting pipe 45, then they pass into the heavy oil tank 46 where the vapors of the higher boiling fractions condense as liquid fuel oils, the uncondensed vapors passing by way of the pipe 47 to the condenser 48 from the condensed fraction of lighter oils boiling at lower temperatures are received in the tank 52. The uncondensed hydrocarbon gases leave by way of the pipe 53 from which they may be sent to the fuel pipe 32 to be stored or otherwise used, as desired.

The solid residue in the dry distillation chamber 21 is discharged by way of the discharge outlet 27 into the hopper and thus into the lime kiln 63. There the mixture of limestone and carbonized bitumen is burned to lime, the carbonized bitumen comprising a portion at least of the fuel desired for the lime-burning operation.

This completes. the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. It will be noted that such apparatus is simple in construction and may be easily and conveniently fabricated and assembled. In operation the apparatus is characterized by its high thermal efliciency, its compactness and its simplicity and efiiciency in use. By means of the apparatus a maximum quantity of the oil fractions and fuel gas may be obtained and a high grade limestone also obtained which is highly suitably for building, mechanical and other purposes. Other superiorities and advantages of the apparatus of the present invention in construction, mode of assembling, operation and method of use, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

lVhat- I claim as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber of substantially cylindrical form, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber surrounding said dry-distillation chamber, and a series of hydrocarbon fuel burners providing a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communicating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heating chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyor communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected limekiln with which said discharge outlet communicates, and means for removing oil vapors from such dry-distillation chamber.

2. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber surrounding said dry-distillation chamber, and a series of hydrocarbon fuel burners providing a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communicating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heat-ing chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyer communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected lime-kiln with which said discharge outlet communicates, and means for removing oil vapors from such dry-distillation chamber. 7

3. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber of substantially cylindrical form, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber surrounding said dry-distillation chamber, and a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communieating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heating chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyor communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way 'of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected lime-kiln with which said discharge outlet communicates, and means for removing oil vapors from such dry-distillation chamber.

4. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber surrounding said dry-distillation chamber and a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communicating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heating chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyor communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected limekiln with which said discharge outlet communicates, and means for removing oil vapors from such dry-distillation chamber.

5. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber surrounding said dry-distillation chamber, and

a series of hydro carbon fuel burners providing a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communicating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heating chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyor communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected lime-kiln with which said discharge outlet communicate, and means for removing oil vapors from such dry-distillation chamber, said last-mentioned means including also a heavy-oil collecting tank, and a lightoil collecting tank communicating with said condenser.

6. In an apparatus for the distilling of bituminous limestones and limestone shales, and the like, a dry-distillation chamber, having an inlet for receiving raw material and an outlet for discharging solid residues, means comprising a heating chamber sur rounding said dry-distillation chamber, and a source of supply of hot gases of combustion communicating with said heating chamber for heating the same, means within said heating chamber for stirring the material within the same and for advancing the same towards its discharge outlet, a hopper and connected conveyor communicating with the interior of said dry-distillation chamber by way of said receiving inlet, a hopper and connected lime-kiln with which said discharge outlet communicates, and means for removlng oil Vapors from such dry-distillation chamber, said last-mentioned means including also a heavy-oil collectingtank, a condenser communicating with said heavy-oil collecting tank, and a light-oil collecting tank communicating with said condenser.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 7th day of November, 1929.

' BORIS KAZMANN. 

